10th - 13th August 2024

Tuesday, 13th August: A pleasant morning, a little cooler than of late in a mix of cloud and hazy sunshine and just a light to moderate westerly breeze ..........

Selsey Bill: A steady westward movement of Mediterranean Gulls, including many juveniles, early on was the only thing of note this morning. Full log below. (SR/IP/AH)

(0700-0815hrs) (W, F2-3)

Great Crested Grebe - 2W

Gannet - 2E, 9W, 3os

Oystercatcher - 1E

Turnstone - 15

Mediterranean Gull - 131W

Sandwich Tern - 8E, 12W, 10os

Common Tern - 1W

House Martin - 10W, 8 present

Meadow Pipit - 1W

Mediterranean Gull (above), Sandwich Tern & Turnstones at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: There was no sign of the Semi-palmated Sandpiper this morning for another expectant gathering, though a Wood Sandpiper was newly arrived, and otherwise there were still a Green Sandpiper, at least two Common Sandpipers, a Snipe, a Redshank, a handful of Dunlin, eight Avocets and c30 Black-tailed Godwits present, along with at least 40 Teal and seven juvenile Shelducks. (AH/KJ/SM/SR/GM et al)

There was also a Spotted Flycatcher near the Visitor Centre. (HR/DM)

Wood Sandpiper (above), Common Sandpiper & Snipe at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: The first Pied Flycatcher of the year was briefly on view in the churchyard early on, and an equally elusive Spotted Flycatcher was present later, with a couple of Whitethroats and half a dozen Willow Warblers and Blackcaps also seen in the churchyard/hide area and a few House Martins still over the maize field behind, whilst the two Wheatears were still around the concrete blocks.. 

At least 40 Sandwich Terns were in the harbour, but there wasn't too much else beyond a couple of Whimbrel, a dozen or so Dunlin and Ringed Plovers and c50 Redshanks. (AH/SR/KJ/SM/HR/DM/GM et al)

Pied Flycatcher (above), Blackcaps, Whitethroat & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

The Pied Flycatcher and the Spotted Flycatcher both re-appeared late this afternoon in the hedges behind the hide, with a couple of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers about, too.

Also, around 30 Sandwich Terns were roosting along the metalwork in the harbour, with a Kingfisher and a Common Sandpiper in the vicinity, too. (IP/PA/AH et al)

Spotted Flycatcher (above), Kingfisher & Sandwich Terns at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There was still a Curlew Sandpiper along White’s Creek this morning, together with four Greenshanks, three Whimbrels, two Curlews and numerous Redshanks and Lapwings, with a few Swallows and Sand Martins moving through overhead.

The Great White Egret was on the Breech Pool again, as were seven Little Egrets, a Grey Heron, three Spotted Redshanks, a Lapwing, a Kingfisher, a Cormorant, 24 Teal, three Gadwall, two Great Crested Grebes and the usual selection of Mallards, Coots and Moorhens, but it was quiet along the reeds and bushes with just a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler seen. (LP)

Spotted Redshank (above) & Great White Egret and Cormorant at the North Wall (LP)

Fishbourne Creek: With the tide well out this morning there were five Greenshank between Dell Quay and the Lavant outflow, 23 Turnstone off Dell Quay and a group of 30 Oystercatchers below Dell Quay and a couple of Whimbrel were in with the Curlew.

There were also a few Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing present, whilst Redshank were numerous, and a Common Gull , a Mediterranean Gull and a few Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in with the commoner gulls. (RW)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - An early returning female Merin was out on the reserve this evening, along with a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk, but the banks were quiet, with just three Willow Warblers seen, with nine Swallows and c20 Sand Martins over.

Also, the Stilt Pools held three Common Sandpipers, four Ringed Plovers and two Dunlin, with another Common Sandpiper and ten Dunlin, plus a Black-tailed Godwit opposite Marsh barn. (S&SaH)

Monday, 12th August: Despite the brisk easterly breeze persisting, it was a very warm and sunny morning from the start ..........

Selsey Bill: A Sanderling on the beach, two Common Terns offshore and 36 Sand Martins east wee the modest highlights this morning. (SR/AH/IP/KT/ABi/P&LH)

(0700-0830hrs) (ESE, F4-5)

Gannet - 2E, 4os

Common Scoter - 6E

Oystercatcher - 2E

Sanderling - 1

Turnstone - 6

Mediterranean Gull - 3E, 5os

Sandwich Tern - 1E, 3W, 15os

Common Tern - 2os

Green Woodpecker - 1

Swallow - 6E

Sand Martin - 36E

House Martin - 6

Sanderling (above) & Common Scoters at the Bill (AH)

Later, a look around the Broadreeds Estate produced ten House Martins, many of them checking out nest sites, and one nest held well grown young. There was also a Painted Lady butterfly. (SR)

House Martins (above) & Painted Lady at the Bill (SR)

This afternoon there were two Wheatears along the beach. (AW)

Wheatear at the Bill (AW)

Ferry Pool: The Semi-palmated Sandpiper and its attendant Dunlin were again on the pool this morning, along with a Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, four Common Sandpipers, 11 Avocets, three Lapwings, c30 Black-tailed Godwits and c25 Teal. (AH/TG/KT/IP/PA/ABi /TS/ARK/P&LH et al)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Dunlin (top two KT, lower three AH), (above), Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpipers & Grey Heron and Little Egret (AH)  at the Ferry

Church Norton: A couple of Wheatears on the concrete blocks and a Yellow Wagtail, a Swift, c20 Swallows, c40 Sand Martins and seven House Martins over were the only hints of migration, with two Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and three Whitethroats the only other migrants seen.

A flock of 16 flighty Greenshanks in and over the harbour were also clearly on the move, but otherwise it was the usual wader fare, including four or five Whimbrel, c30 Ringed Plovers, a few Dunlin and the usual Curlews, Oystercatchers and Redshanks, along with half a dozen Sandwich Tens and Mediterranean Gulls. (PA/AH/IP/KT/P&LH et al)

This evening a Curlew Sandpiper was in the harbour, along with a juvenile Kittiwake. (PA)

Sand Martin (above) & Whimbrel at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There was still a single Curlew Sandpiper along White’s Creek with the usual Redshanks, Lapwings and Curlews, and a Yellow-legged Gull was sat out on the mud along with a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

A Garden Warbler was in the bushes behind the sluice, as well as two Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff and a Kestrel, with a Sparrowhawk circling overhead, and lots of Swallows and Sand Martins were passing through.

The Great White Egret was again showing well on the Breech Pool, where there was also 2two Spotted Redshanks, a Common Sandpiper, two Kingfishers, eight Little Egrets, three Mute Swans, ten Canada Geese, a Grey Heron, the Great Crested Grebe family, a Lapwing and six Teal, but the reeds were very quiet with no sign of any warblers or buntings.

There were 63 Cattle Egrets in and around Owl Copse including two very young chicks still on their nest, but it was quiet around Halsey’s Farm with just a juvenile Marsh Harrier passing through and a few Swallows over the fields. (LP/CT/TRH)

Great White Egret (above), Cattle Egret chick, Whitethroat, Sparrowhawk & Kestrel along the North Wall (LP)

Sunday, 11th August: A still and foggy start quickly gave way to a bright and very warm morning in a freshening easterly breeze..........

Selsey Bill: The fog precluded seeing anything offshore, but a Redshank and a Sanderling were along the beach and four Common Terns were among the Sandwich Terns on the bar, but there was not a hint of a migrant along the gardens. Full log below. (SR/AH/IP)

(0700-0915hrs) (ENE, F2-3)

Sparrowhawk - 1

Oystercatcher - 5E, 3W

Sanderling - 1

Redshank - 1

Turnstone - 22

Mediterranean Gull - 4W, 8os

Sandwich Tern - 15E, 2W, 25os

Common Tern - 4os

Swift - 3

Swallow - 1

Later on, a Willow Warbler was in the gardens along the front. (LL)

Sanderling (above), Turnstones & Common and Sandwich Terns at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: The Semi-palmated Sandpiper was being very obliging at the front of the pool early this morning for a good numbers of observers, along with its Dunlin consort, before eventually retreating to the back.

Otherwise there was a fair selection of waders present, including a Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, four Common Sandpipers, ten Avocets and c35 Black-tailed Godwits, along with c25 Teal, whilst the Whinchat and the Stonechat family were still along the fence-line behind the pool and a Kingfisher flew through.. (AH/PB/MRB/AB/CD/PA/IP/HB/LT et al)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper (above), Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper & Avocets at the Ferry (AH)

Church Norton: Migrants were again at a premium, but two Garden Warblers and two or three Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Blackcaps, plus a Chiffchaff feeding a youngster, were around the churchyard/hide area, along with a Mistle Thrush and a Green Woodpecker..

The harbour was vey quiet, with just a couple of Whimbrel and the usual Curlews, Redshanks and Oystercatchers to be found. (AB/Cd/PB/MRB/AH et al)

This evening a probable juvenile Caspian Gull was in the harbour near the metalwork, whilst eight Common Terns and 39 Sandwich Terns were roosting in the harbour.

Wafers included a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and 20 Ringed Plovers, whilst there was also a Teal about and five Swallows over. (MRe/AB)

Willow Warbler (above) & Mistle Thrush at Church Norton (AH)

North Wall: There were still two Curlew Sandpipers along White’s Creek, together with a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, two Grey Plovers and numerous Redshanks and Lapwings, but elsewhere it was very quiet with just a Cetti’s Warbler by the sluice, a Green Woodpecker around the paddock, and a Kingfisher, three Sparrowhawks, two Kestrels and 38 Cattle Egrets, in and around Owl Copse. (LP)

Lapwing (above) & Cattle Egrets at the North Wall (LP)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Most of the interest was overhead again this morning, including a Peregrine, a Marsh Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrels, four Buzzards,, a Swift, 33 Swallows and c70 Sand Martins.

The banks were quiet again, with just a Whitethroat, four Willow Warblers and three Yellowhammers seen, and there were just two Common Sandpipers of note on the Stilt Pool, along with two Cattle Egrets that appeared to fly in off the sea. (S&SaH)

Medmerry: Porthole Farm - Around 20 Sand Martins were feeding overhead and c25 Swallows - mainly juveniles - and a handful of House Martins were around Oakhurst Farm, but there was literally not a bird to be seen in the hedges. (AH)

Sand Martin (above) & Swallows at Porthole Farm (AH)

Chichester GPs: Drayton House pits - An early WeBS count this morning, which produced nothing beyond the expected but again proved what a stronghold these two pits are for one species at least - Common Pochard - with a joint total of 82 being logged. 

A Common Tern visited both pits for fishing, but it was otherwise standard fare, including a total of 26 Great Crested Grebes and eight Gadwall. Several Reed Warblers, including a couple of families, were still active, as were three Willow Warblers, but there was little else of note. (OM)

(above) moulting Gadwall and (below) moulting drake Pochard in eclipse at Drayton House North pit (OM)

Saturday, 10th August: Another very blustery, if mild, morning, with sun early and late but overcast in-between......

Selsey Bill: A Fulmar and a Kittiwake went west, but the most interesting sighting of the morning was a pod of five Harbour Porpoises seen going east, about half-way out. Full log below. (SH/PB/SR/AH/IP)

(0545-0800hrs) (W, F3-4)

Fulmar - 1W

Gannet - 3E, 16W, 12os

Common Scoter - 9W

Oystercatcher - 3W

Ringed Plover - 2

Turnstone - 15

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 13W

Swallow - 1

House Martin - 6

Meadow Pipit - 1

Harbour Porpoise - 5E

(1130-1230hrs) (SH)

Gannet - 1E

Mediterranean Gull - 1W

Kittiwake - 1W

Sandwich Tern - 2W, 1os

Turnstone (above) & Turnstone and Ringed Plovers at the Bill (AH)

Ferry Pool: What looked like the Semi-palmated Sandpiper from the harbour was at the back of the pool early on, but not later. (AH)

Later on, there were also a Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, up to four Common Sandpipers, ten Avocets and c25 Black-tailed Godwits, along with a Shoveler, three Gadwall, a juvenile Shelduck and c20 Teal, whilst a Whinchat and a family of Stonechats were along the fence in the middle of the fields. (AH/PA/OM et al)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper (above), Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper & Common Sandpiper on the Ferry (AH)

Park Farm, Selsey: There were just a Swallow and two House Martins over the farm this morning, along with two Buzzards, whilst a Willow Warble and a Green Woodpecker were along Park Lane. (IP)

Church Norton: Later in the morning the Semi-palmated Sandpiper was back in its usual area in the harbour, mostly in view for the continuous stream of searchers.

It was quiet otherwise, though, with just c40 Ringed Plovers, a dozen Dunlin, a Grey Plover, a Lapwing, two three Whimbrel and the usual Redshanks, Curlews and Oystercatchers on the mud, along with four sandwich Terns, whilst half a dozen more of the latter and seven Mediterranean Gulls were along the beach and two Sand Martins went over.

The bushes were devoid of birds, with a single Whitethroat in the churchyard and one or wo more, plus the odd Linnet long the front was about it, though at least 50 House Martins were feeding over the hedges by the maize field. (MB/DB/OM/AB/AH/IP et al)

Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Ringed P;over (above), Dunlin and Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Sandwich Tern & House Martin at Church Norton (AH)

Medmerry: Easton Lane to the Stilt Pool - Two Wheatears and three Common Sandpipers were on the Stilt Pool this morning, and a flock of five Sanderlings went over west, but the banks were quiet in the wind, with just three Stonechats, two Whitethroats, two Reed Buntings and five Yellowhammers noted.

Most of the other interest was overhead, with two female-type Mash Harriers, two Buzzards, two Sparrowhawks, two Swifts, two Sand Martins, four House Martins and c20 Swallows seen. (SH/PB)

North Wall: A Curlew Sandpiper was in White's Creek this morning, viewable from the sluice. (M&LH)

This afternoon the Great White Egret was again on the Breech Pool, with 27 Little Egrets and 54 Cattle Egrets counted, mostly around Owl Copse.

Also, 12 Grey Plovers were in the harbour, a Cetti's Warbler was along the wall and two Sand Martins went over. (S&SaH)

Long Pool: At least a dozen Sand Martins were over the adjacent fields this evening, but a Whitethroat and two Linnets was it along the hedges. (AH)

Sand Martins at the Long Pool (AH)